Ricigliano
Welcome to Ricigliano
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk about Ricigliano, an Italian municipality located in Campania, in the province of Salerno. With a population of just over a thousand people, Ricigliano is a small village nestled among the mountains of the Lucanian Apennines. Let's explore together the geography, the origin of its name, and some details about its history.
Physical Geography
The territory of Ricigliano extends over the hills of the Lucanian Apennines, in the Platano valley, with a view of the Romagnano al Monte gorge. To the north, there is a view of the mountainous massifs of Monte Marzano, which reach 1,530 meters in height. The village is located on the borders between Campania and Basilicata, surrounded by municipalities such as San Gregorio Magno, Romagnano al Monte, Balvano, and Muro Lucano. The area falls within seismic zone 1, with high seismicity.
Origin of the Name
Contrary to a legend that said the name of the village came from a sacred place to Giano, the true meaning of the name "Ricigliano" dates back to the Roman period, from the name "Ricilius". The family that owned land in the "municipium" of Volcei, corresponding to the current territory of Ricigliano, apparently had the surname Ricilius.
History
The history of Ricigliano has ancient roots. The first settlements date back to prehistory, as evidenced by the numerous testimonies of the time found in the territory. In particular, graves in the Cutruzzone district are examples of great interest.
The village was then built by Greeks who came from the Peloponnese, more precisely from Tegua (Tegea). In historical times, Ricigliano was a vicus of Volcei, now Buccino. In Roman times, Ricigliano was a fairly important city and was made a Latin colony. The remains of a Roman rustic villa in the Santa Maria area are a testament to this.
Among the most difficult moments in the history of the village is certainly the arrival of Alaric, king of the Goths, who completely destroyed Ricigliano and its seven hamlets, which carried the names of S. Elia, S. Calogero, S. Jorio, S. Janni, S. Leucio, S. Pietro, and San Zaccheria. Subsequently, the territory was entrusted to Tancredi di San Fele. Federico II also included Ricigliano among the villages that had to contribute to the repair of the castle of Buccino.
Later, the village passed to various feudal lords, including the D'Alemagna and the Caracciolo family, who took control of it along with Giacomo, Marquis of Brienza. At the end of the seventeenth century, the management of the fief was entrusted to the De Marinis family and remained in their possession until the holder Michele.
Conclusions
Here is a brief overview of Ricigliano, a charming location with a millennia-old history behind it. If you are in the area, do not hesitate to visit this small village surrounded by nature, where you can appreciate the beauty of the Lucanian Apennine mountains and be conquered by the friendliness of the locals.
